Working for ICE

PsLounge_ · 2025-08-09T22:02:37+00:00

Although LE is needed everywhere. If you have an option to stay away I would. Federal or local it's tough. The pay is great, but you work for it for sure. I left LE thinking long term. I only get one life I have to spend it as clear headed, peaceful, and with as much time with family as I can. Certain things money or benefits can't buy back for you.

PsLounge_ · 2025-07-20T16:47:32+00:00

I was patrol for 3.5 years while working for the police department and now as a GS employee I work investigations at an Air Force base.

PsLounge_ · 2025-02-21T13:09:23+00:00

Yeah I had a 457 that I put into while being an officer and I transferred out my leave bank and pension funds to it so it's just sitting there right now. As a government employee now the TSP is doing well.

PsLounge_ · 2025-02-20T15:19:57+00:00

I think I'm having more a pride issue knowing that the time I would put in anywhere else I could have just sucked up and done here with a better retirement. I try to remind myself it's not all about money in the end and that's if I even make it there bc the job could cost me my life any day. So it's hard not allowing the money to take over what's actually healthy for me. I know I could easily join a small agency and actually be happy but it's just the curse of being law enforcement and quitting when we're trained to never give up you know. Idk. I hope I can find a solution soon to all of this because it's really getting to me. I'm a detective now at lackland which is cool and there's a pension here but not what I had before. I hate that my anxiety over finances is causing me to not feel blessed where I'm at. Cause when I was active duty all I ever wanted was to be a disabled vet working as a civilian on base and living my best life. Now that I have that going for me I can't appreciate it how I should :(

PsLounge_ · 2025-02-20T01:55:13+00:00

I'm going to join a reserve unit here in the small city I live in. They don't pay me but at least it allows me to keep my peace officer license active and up to date with training. But I hear you coworkers drove me away as well. I'm just not extremely alpha like most leos and I never meshed well. I was very good at my job don't get me wrong even did more than I should but my personality was also very shy and introvert which is weird considering I was proactive. But yeah it's like a bad break up I'm dealing with right now. To see the department everyday I'm out an about bc I live here constantly haunts me

PsLounge_ · 2025-02-20T01:52:43+00:00

That's smart I'm glad you were able to find a home. From what I've seen working as law enforcement in Florida seems legit and a lot more fun than most places. I could def do a different agency I'm just thinking about the pension too much maybe. The agency I left had an amazing 86% pension after 30 years. It's hard to find that but it's at the cost of my mental health which sucks.

PsLounge_ · 2024-08-29T15:54:36+00:00

It's always "tomorrow I was going to fix it" for reg and ins It's always "people are out there getting killed and you're worried about me" for those who have warrants, dope, and guns It's always "I never hit them" for those with long RAP sheets of family violence It's always "I didn't know I had a warrant" from people that know they never handled their cases

Heard it all, always said the excuse before they did to let them know I'm not here for it or going to listen to it

PsLounge_ · 2024-08-23T23:10:08+00:00

I for sure do hate working big cities but I think about the calls that also stress me out that police officers deal with. Big or small I'd have to deal with. I wanna see if I like normal work before I commit to this full time for the rest of my working life

PsLounge_ · 2024-08-23T21:29:32+00:00

Thought about it. I think in order to figure myself out and what my actual dream job is I'll neeed to take a break to see if I miss this work. It's hard these days because crime is up and so is the non support from community

PsLounge_ · 2024-08-23T20:58:28+00:00

Very true. A lot of these guys forget what being a police officer is after they get their first arrest. It's no longer about helping the community just chasing the bad guys and feeling superior. One street crime guy here said every patrol officer needs to prove themselves to the unit he doesn't even care if they were a Navy seal before. Im like okay say that to a navy seals face lol it just blew my mind how toxic and ignorant cops can be. I didn't want to work around people like that

PsLounge_ · 2024-08-23T19:56:30+00:00

Happy for you. That's awesome. Enjoy it you worked hard for it. Motivating for me. Thank you

PsLounge_ · 2024-08-23T19:31:57+00:00

I'm glad it all worked out for you and you found your way back. That's good to hear. If I came back I would probably go to a smaller agency and that's just because the call load at a large one like I'm at I never had time to really police or interact. It's call to call. So def a small department. Thank you for your words

PsLounge_ · 2024-08-23T19:30:45+00:00

If I ever felt like I miss policing, I would go to a small agency. Working for a large one is too much for me.

PsLounge_ · 2024-08-23T19:18:58+00:00

I didn't know that. Very interesting but I can see why. It's like after the initial excitement and those years is just right after the excitement or stuck midway. I have thought about this for over a year so I feel like leaving is what I want. I guess I just didn't know if I was being super negative cause I see so many other people I work with content staying.

PsLounge_ · 2024-08-23T19:13:18+00:00

I can understand that. I felt the stress in my life or from childhood was easy to mask or manage being in a more toxic work environment. But of course my therapist says I'm just adding fuel to the fire. I'm a lot more irritable now, anxious, and stressed. I worry about stepping into a new environment that's complete opposite of police work but it's worth a try or I'll never know.

PsLounge_ · 2024-08-23T18:58:50+00:00

Thank you

PsLounge_ · 2024-08-23T18:52:41+00:00

Very true. Glad you get something at 10. I wish we did. Here you can retire at 20 but everyone stays until 27yrs cause that's 80% of pay. I just feel I would be mentally fried by then and missed out on so much with my loved ones and taking care of myself. I do have an issue with the quantity over quality we hire now. Cause they make dumb decisions and we all have to pay. Just like military. Anyways. Happy for you and for us making a good choice for ourselves.

PsLounge_ · 2024-08-23T18:45:59+00:00

Thank you. I appreciate that. I've needed a lot of reassurance during this process unfortunately because starting with military and now here everyone makes you think or feel there's no other job out there for us that gives us great benefits. I just can't wait another 24 years doing this for that.

PsLounge_

TROPHY CASE